Plug and plug receptacle



, Feb. 12, 1935. A. J. GODARE PLUG AND PLUG RECEP'I'ACLE Filed Oct. 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. 'odaz're.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. J. GODARE Feb. 12, 1935.

PLUG AND PLUG RECEPTACLE Filed 001:. 15, 1951 05 J 'adar'e.

atented Feb. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,990,637 PLUG m PLUG nsosrracm Anthony J. Godare, Denver, Colo; Application October 15, 1931, Serial No. 569,023

3 Claims. 173-343) This invention relates to devices for closing electric circuits and has special reference to plugs and plug receptacles whereby current conductors may be fitted into supply points to receive current therefrom. The invention has for its obvention resides in certain novel features which will be particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a view showing the plug in side elevation and a receptacle in vertical section and in separated positions,

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the plug inserted into the receptacle,

Fig.- 3 is a top plan view of the receptacle,

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the lower section of the receptacle,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the contact member which is housed in the receptacle,

:"Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a convenience outlet in which a contact member embodying the invention is included,

Figz 'lis a front elevation of the outlet,

Fig. 8 isa section on the line -1 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 9 is a section on the lin? 1l11 of- Fig. 7.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, the reference numeral 1 indicates the lower section of a receptacle body upon the upper side of which an upper section 2 is placed and secured, both sections being formed of some insulating material. The lower section 1 has its bottom end somewhat reduced in diameter and is equipped externally with a collar 3 of metal which is corrugated so as to form threads whereby itmay be fitted into an ordinary socket. At one point, the collar or rim 3 has an extension, indicated at 4, which is bent to fit under the body of the plug and be connected to one end of the shank 5 of a contact member. It will be understood, of course, that two contact members are provided in the body of the receptacle and the shanks thereof are received within slots 6 which extend chambers 7, as shown. These chambers 7 are flared upwardly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and have their greater dimensions disposed at right angles, as shown in Fig. 4. The shank of one contact member is extended beyond the end of the body and passes through a washer or plate 8 of insulation and is then bent laterally to extend under said washer or plate, its extremity being provided with an opening 9 through which a securing screw 10 is passed, said screw passing through a central opening in the washer and engaging in an opening provided therefor in the lower end of the plug body, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The head of the screw 10 constitutes a center contact and the collar 3 constitutes a rim contact to engage cooperating contacts when the plug is fitted into a socket in the usual manner.

Formed with the upper end of the metallic shank 5 of the contact member are jaws 11 which are offset from the shank, as shown clearly in Fig. 5, and are resilient so that they tend constantly to press together at their free ends, said ends being formed into eyes or sleeves 12, the axes of which are parallel. To supplement the resiliency of the jaws 11 and to insure a proper contact between the sleeves and an inserted prong, I provide a torsion spring 13 which is formed into a coil between its ends and seated between the lower ends of the jaws which are connected with each other as well as with the upper end of the shank 5 so as to support the spring, the ends of the spring being carried. toward the extremities of the jaws along the opposite edges of the opposite jaws, as shown clearly in Fig. 5, and then bent laterally so as to extend through the sleeves or eyes of the jaws and be engaged therewith.

Upon reference to Figs. 1. and 2,it will be noted that the contact members, inciuding the shank 5 and the jaws carried thereby, are somewhat longer than the section 1 of the plug body so that the jaws project through the end of the body from the chambers l. The upper section 2 of the plug body is a circular disk having openings 14 therethrough arranged at a right angle to each other and consisting of slots of proper size to admit and guide the tines or prongs of the plug. The slots 14 open through the upper side of the disk 2 and flared recesses 15 are preiierahly formed: around their upper ends so as to facilitate the engagement of the plug tines or prongs therewith. In the underside of the dis-la 2 are recesses or chamhers is which are arranged to aline with the chambers i and receive the upper ends of the jaws 11 of the housed contact members. The

* upon the lower body member by screws 1'? inserted through openings provided therefor in the upper member and engaging openings in the upper end of the lower member, as will be understood, and it may be noted that the openings provided for the screws are countersunk so that the heads of the screws will be flush with the top of the disk when the parts are secured together.

The plug comprises a body 18, of insulation, having a passage therethrough for the reception of a cord or cable 20 which is to carry the current to the point of use.

Upon reference to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the tines or prongs 26 are disposed at a right angle to each other corresponding to the arrangement of the slots 14 and of the contact members within the receptacle. The extremities of the tines or prongs are tapered, as shown at 28, whereby they may readily enter between the sleeves 12 at the ends of the jaws 11 and adjacent their tapered ends, notches 29 are formed in the edges of the tines so that, when the plug is inserted, the sleeves or eyes 12 will be engaged in the notches and will resist withdrawal of the plug. A very firm electrical connection between the tines and the contact members in the receptacle is thereby attained and accidental release of the plug is avoided, although the plug may be easily withdrawn when a proper force is applied thereto.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, and which has been particularly described, the device is adapted for use as a coupling for extension cables as well as for insertion in an ordinary fixed socket. In Figures 6 to 9, I have illustrated the application of the invention to convenience outlets which are now generally provided in large numbers in houses and other buildings. These outlets consist of a body 30, of insulation, secured within a recess provided therefor in a base board or wall. The body 30 is secured to a bracket 31, ordinarily in the form of a metallic strap, extending across the back or inner side of the body and having its ends formed to fit closely against the ends of the body, as shown in Fig. 6, the extremities of the bracket or strap being bent outwardly to fit against the wall of the chamber in which the outlet is mounted and provided with openings 32 through which securing screws are passed. A washer 33, of insulating material, is interposed between the back of the body 30 and the metallic bracket so as to avoid any short circuit through accidental contact between current-carrying elements, and the washer and the bracket are secured to the body by screws 34, or similar'fastenings, inserted through the bracket and the washer and engaged in thimbles 35 embedded in the back of the body during the molding of the same. The body 30 is provided, in its rear side, at its end, with chambers 36 arranged at a right angle to each other and opening through the back of the body. Slots 37 extend from the respective chambers through the front side of the body and these slots are disposed at a right angle to each other, as shown. The chambers 36 house contact members 38 which are identical in construction with the previously described contact members, consisting of the jaws 11 and associated parts, and are to be engaged by tines corresponding to the tines 26 when current is to be carried off to a point of use. The shank will not extend from the jaws in substantial alinement therewith, as shown in Fig. 5 and in the first described form of the invention, when the contacts are embodied in an outlet, but will extend laterally and will be received in a shallow recess provided therefor in the back of the body of the outlet, as is shown at 39 in Figs. 8 and 9. The shank will be provided on one edge with a lip 40 which is turned up against the side of the body and is equipped with a binding screw, 41 whereby the end of a feed conductor may be secured.

Outlets are now most generally constructed to permit the taking of! of current simultaneously for use at more than one point and I have illustrated a duplex outlet, or one in which two plugs bers or jaws 11 are arranged in chambers 36 provided therefor at both ends of the body of the outlet and the contact members on the same side have their shanks 5 in common, the lips 40 being disposed midway the ends of the shanks, as clear! 1y shown in the drawings.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a means for taking off current in which the engaging contacts will be firmly held together so that accidental release cannot occur and inasmuch as the tines of the plug, and the openings in which they are received, are disposed at a right angle to each other, the insertion of the plug in any other than the predetermined manner is prevented. This arrangement also aids in maintaining the engagement of the tines with the spring jaw contacts and will avoid the fumbling and consequent wear upon the parts. which is occasioned by persons attempting to insert the plugs without giving the matter proper attention. With the present device, it is necessary to bring the plug into a predetermined position before it can be inserted and this insures the proper care on the part of the operator. The device is simple and compact and can be produced at a cost not appreciably greater than the ordinary plugs in common use while the contact will be more efliciently maintained.

Having thus described the invention, I claim,

1. A contact member for plug receptacles each contact comprising a pair of resilient contact jaws, a shank extending from the bases of the jaws, eyes at the free extremities of the jaws projecting from opposite faces thereof to engage and hold an inserted notched contact on two sides bases of the jaws and housed by and between the jaws, the ends of the spring being extended along the jaws and engaged in the eyes at the ends thereof whereby to hold said eyes toward each other.

2. In a plug and plug receptacle structure, the combination of a plug receptacle having spaced chambers therein, contact members in the receptacle each comprising'resilient jaws seated in the chambers and having opposite eyes at their free ends, a coil spring housed by and between the jaws with the ends of the spring connected with the eyes and tending to normally urge said eyes toward each other, a plug member, and flat prongs carried by the plug member to be inserted in the chambers in the receptacle and having tapered ends adapted to pass between the jaws and provided with notches in their edges to receive the eyes at the ends of the jaws.

3. In a plug and plug receptacle structure, the combination of a receptacle having chambers therein and slot entrances to said chambers disposed at an angle to each other, contact members secured in the receptacle and each commay be simultaneously fitted. The contact memthereof, and a coil torsion spring seated at the prising resilient jaws disposed within the chambers of the receptacle and having opposite prong holding eyes at their free extremities, a coil spring housed by and between the jaws with its ends extended within the eyes and tending to normally urge the eyes toward each other, the prong holding eyes in each chamber being parallel with receptacle and adapted to pass between the jaws of the contact members and having their edges engaged by the eyes at the ends of the jaws.

ANTHONY J. GODARE. 

